The Nubian Past

by David N. Edwards

This cutting-edge synthesis of the archaeology of Nubia and Sudan from prehistory to the nineteenth century AD is the first major work on this area for over three decades. Drawing on results of the latest research and developing new interpretive frameworks, the area which has produced the most spectacular archaeology in sub-Saharan Africa is examined here by an author with extensive experience in this field.

The geographical range of the book extends through the Nubian north, the Middle Nile Basin, and includes what has become the modern Sudan. Using period-based chapters, the region's long-term history is traced and a potential for a more broadly framed and inclusive 'historical archaeology' of Sudan's more recent past is explored.

This text breaks new ground in its move beyond the Egyptocentric and more traditional culture-histories of Nubia, often isolated in Africanist research, and it relocates the early civilizations and their archaeology within their Sudanic Africa context. This is a captivating study of the area's history, and will inform and enthral all students and researchers of Archaeology and Egyptology.

Genres: History, Archaeology, Egypt, Africa

360 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Iset · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely an archaeologist’s book. Settlement patterns, pottery typography, cemetery excavations – if you love reading about all the technical details of site reports, then this is the book for you. It is probably a little dry for the general reader though. Caveat aside, this is one of the few books on the subject, and relatively up to date. Nubian history is difficult to brush up on; partly because of a lengthy pre-literate stage, but in large part because of the sparse work done in the area, both in terms of field excavation and even more so in terms of publication. This text is somewhat illuminating, but if anything I was struck by just how much we still do not know. Another point to recommend this book is that it actually takes a broad look at Sudan’s history, from the stone age right up to the 20th century – it is not just examining the ancient past. So, if you’re interested in the subject, and don’t mind a dry academic text, give this book a go.

[Birgitta Hoffmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Possibly at the moment the standard introduction into the Subject. This does not make it an easy read and the really rather limited amount of illustration means that you really have to read this next to the computer to look up the pictures online.
On the up side, it is full to the brim with information on the excavations and surveys in the area as well as discussions as to biases. The one think it does not touch is the question of how to interpret this. Colour is not a topic of this book (possibly as in archaeology, this is very hard to establish under the best conditions), so if you are interested in Black History, you might feel short changed, as it is not covered. But instead you get a very detailed introduction about Sudanese Archaeology and History, covering all of the Sudan, incl. Darfur.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the few concise, recent archaeological histories of ancient Nubia. Sparse on illustrations and possibly a bit dense or overly technical for the non-specialist, but still an excellent resource, especially the extensive bibliography.

[Shila Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good textbook. I especially found Chapter 5 interesting: The Kushite Revival. If you are looking to dive into the history of Nubia, this will take you there. Cross reference it with other books, but this is a nice start.